Ric Flair

Not claiming anything other than the jury is still out on just how much faith he puts in academy players over experience. At some clubs, you have no choice but to play them. When you have a talent pool like ours but then a big array of failed and washed up PL players it's a harder one to juggle and takes some unwavering decision making.

I'm not talking 4 or 5 but Nelson, Monga and Page, possibly Aluko are very much capable against every player in their position in this squad. Don't forget, we need to rebuild, not just try and get up and survive again doing the same as before. Marti has some difficult decisions to make but for example, if he wants to play possession football then you have Nelson in there over Okoli. It's peculiar.

Jury is still out on his actions, he has a big squad to choose from and I understand the temptation to pick experience. It's uncomfortable having the likes of Bobby, Daka, Winks, Faes etc not even on the bench but for me to truly commend a manager for the vision I want and hope to see, they need to be unwavering with it.

When Bobby Reid comes on in this game over Monga I hope we can stop with this Cifuentes academy pioneer propaganda. He's just the same as all the rest.

Whilst we are a work in progress, Marti has a squad of players that at this level should be able to pass thr ball and yet so far this season they can't. I then have to start to question if it's their malaise or his weakness at instructing and coaching? We are up for the scrap which i praise but Cifuentes is proclaimed to be a very possession orientated manager.

This game is crying out for Bobby Reid and Skipp and Soumare to play the full 90.

How is he still in the U18s??? Doing my head in now this is. Stupidity.

Cifuentes is clever and has definitely helped get the fans onside. He could have easily taken more of a players stance on the disconnect with the fans and just stopped short of criticism but pleaded we get behind them. He's quite clearly set his stall out that he backs his players 100% but it is they who's job it is to make the fans get behind them rather than vice versa or even an equal responsibility. He's a manager fans really can identify with and in turn we will get behind him and the players which is the organic ingredient we all need and want anyway!

It was after the 1st international break that we became relentless for a period under Enzo having previously got results unconvincingly. Let's hope for the same, although I still think we are a work in progress that's not got quite the goals and ability in the squad overall that we've previously had.

Heading out in the dark at 6am is a bit of a sullen feeling but hopefully still get that early morning sunrise buzz if it clears up.

Ipswich have very good winger options, probably only 2nd to us. Still can't get my head around how much they've blown on the players that they did. Egali is a monster signing but some real wasted money too.

Don't disagree with that, i'd perhaps not start Nelson currently anyway but would like to see him get some minutes from the bench. Classy player and we do need to be mindful of his future.

Never forget speaking to Muzzy around 2012/13 era and he said he'd never ever seen a talent at Leicester like Ndukwu.

Going to be interesting to see what Cifuentes does with the squad now that we have 3 new additions, as well as the return of Kristiansen and Bobby Reid from injury. Invariably Aluko, Silko and possibly a few others will drop from the match day squads. Going to be something like this: Starting XI Stolarczyk Ricardo Vestergaard Okoli Thomas Soumare James Fatawu Ramsey Mavididi Carranza Subs: Vieites, Monga, Page, Skipp, Nelson, Faes, Kristiansen, Hamza, Ayew/Daka Outside the matchday squad: Winks, Daka/Ayew, Souttar, Reid, Silko, Aluko, Evans, Wanya Really hope Page keeps his place in the matchday squad but looking at all of that without injuries, you could well see him missing out for one of Winks/Reid/Daka/Ayew. Not so sure we got the level of outgoings Marti wanted.

Monga, Page and Evans even too young to feature in this list 😂

We had Martin on the pod, doing Tim Davies impressions 😂😂😂

No thats Blessing Akolbire

Yeah, very comfortable. Really rate him, hope he gets a chance as the season progresses.

Yeah it'll be a battle, we need to make sure we approach this in the right manner and be as physical and determined as we were vs Birmingham. With some better midfield options now, I hope we can take control of games a little more as well.

Got 4 rounds of golf in the next 2 weeks which is unheard of for me. Back will be in bits by the end of it (one of the reasons I tend to play as little as possible even though its my favourite sport)

Only reason why we'd be in breach if we went up vs not going up is the bonuses for promotion.

Our recent decision making would suggest we have a plan that evidences how we are going to comply with PSR. It seems for EFL potential sales in June is not acceptable and can punish us even if we were to then sell players in June and ultimately comply. So any big sale if we go up will likely not be for compliance.

Vardy historically seems to be injured or suspended over the festive period so, prudent to write off mid December through to mid January. I'm hoping the Lecce home game on 7/8 December is a game he'll run riot in.

People have mistaken me if they think promotion doesn't matter, the end goal needs to be that otherwise as you say we lose such talent quicker and for cheaper. But there's simply little point trying to achieve promotion and a misplaced notion of consolidation if we keep operating like we have done. I've absolutely no desire to see us in the Premier League if two of the last three seasons is anything to go by and I don't just mean because we were relegated. It's the manner in which we operated. If the reset, rebuild and new strategy sees us stay in this league for a few years whilst we get our house in order then that's part of the process that we mustn't lose faith in. There's a balance but like everything, you have to overcome the fear of failure of trying to prevent mistakes as they learn because all that will do is see us continue the misplaced belief that experience is key and we'll not fulfill our ambition either.

I know I keep repeating this but a) he was absolutely fine 2nd half and b) by that metric Vestergaard and Okoli should have been dropped after Preston and not picked again anytime soon and finally c) Page is being persevered with for the long term benefit despite being very much a work in progress. Trust the process blah blah blah